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probably will be the subjects which deal with nature； for the ways
of nature are more nearly within the range of his real concerns
than are the wherefores of study。 The story of the formation of a
piece of chalk； the substance which lies at the basis of all life；
the habits of sea animals； are all subjects the nature of which is
akin to his own eager interest in the world。
Undoubtedly the subjects about which Huxley writes will 〃appeal〃 to
the student； but it is in analysis that the real discipline lies。
For analysis Huxley's essays are excellent。 They illustrate 〃the
clear power of exposition；〃 and such power is； as Huxley wrote to
Tyndall； the one quality the people want；exposition 〃so clear
that they may think they understand even if they don't。〃 Huxley
obtains that perfect clearness in his own work by simple
definition； by keeping steadily before his audience his intention；
and by making plain throughout his lecture a well…defined organic
structure。 No X…ray machine is needful to make the skeleton
visible； it stands forth with the parts all nicely related and
compactly joined。 In reference to structure； his son and
biographer writes； 〃He loved to visualize his object clearly。 The
framework of what he wished to say would always be drawn out
first。〃 Professor Ray Lankester also mentions Huxley's love of
form。 〃He deals with form not only as a mechanical engineer IN
PARTIBUS （Huxley's own description of himself）； but also as an
artist； a born lover of form； a character which others recognize in
him though he does not himself set it down in his analysis。〃
Huxley's own account of his efforts to shape his work is
suggestive。 〃The fact is that I have a great love and respect for
my native tongue； and take great pains to use it properly。
Sometimes I write essays half…a…dozen times before I can get them
into proper shape； and I believe I become more fastidious as I grow
older。〃 And； indeed； there is a marked difference in firmness of
structure between the earlier essays； such as On the Educational
Value of the Natural History Sciences； written； as Huxley
acknowledges； in great haste； and the later essays； such as A
Liberal Education and The Method of Scientific Investigation。 To
trace and to define this difference will be most helpful to the
student who is building up a knowledge of structure for his own
use。
According to Huxley's biographer in the Life and Letters of Thomas
Henry Huxley； the essays which represent him at his best are those
published in 1868。 They are A Piece of Chalk； A Liberal Education；
and On the Physical Basis of Life。 In connection with the comment
on these essays is the following quotation which gives one
interesting information as to Huxley's method of obtaining a clear
style：
This lecture on A Piece of Chalk together with two others delivered
this year； seems to me to mark the maturing of his style into that
mastery of clear expression for which he deliberately labored； the
saying exactly what he meant； neither too much nor too little；
without confusion and without obscurity。 Have something to say；
and say it； was the Duke of Wellington's theory of style； Huxley's
was to say that which has to be said in such language that you can
stand cross…examination on each word。 Be clear； though you may be
convicted of error。 If you are clearly wrong； you will run up
against a fact sometime and get set right。 If you shuffle with
your subject； and study chiefly to use language which will give a
loophole of escape either way； there is no hope for you。
This was the secret of his lucidity。 In no one could Buffon's
aphorism on style find a better illustration； Le style c'est
l'homme meme。 In him science and literature； too often divorced；
were closely united； and literature owes him a debt for importing
into it so much of the highest scientific habit of mind； for
showing that truthfulness need not be bald； and that real power
lies more in exact accuracy than in luxuriance of diction。
Huxley's own theory as to how clearness is to be obtained gets at
the root of the matter。 〃For my part； I venture to doubt the
wisdom of attempting to mould one's style by any other process than
that of striving after the clear and forcible expression of
definite conceptions； in which process the Glassian precept； first
catch your definite conception； is probably the most difficult to
obey。〃
Perfect clearness； above every other quality of style； certainly is
characteristic of Huxley； but clearness alone does not make
subject…matter literature。 In addition to this quality； Huxley's
writing wins the reader by the racy diction； the homely
illustration； the plain； honest phrasing。 All these and other
qualities bring one into an intimate relationship with his subject。
A man of vast technical learning； he is still so interested in the
relation of his facts to the problems of men that he is always able
to infuse life into the driest of subjects； in other words； to
HUMANIZE his knowledge； and in the estimation of Matthew Arnold；
this is the true work of the scholar； the highest mission of style。
III
SUGGESTED STUDIES IN SUBJECT…MATTER； STRUCTURE； AND STYLE
Although fully realizing that the questions here given are only
such as are generally used everywhere by instructors in English；
the editor has； nevertheless； included them with the hope that some
one may find them helpful。
The studies given include a few general questions and suggestions
on subject…matter； structure； and style。 The questions on
structure are based on an analysis of the whole composition and of
the paragraph； those on style are based on a study of sentences and
words。 Such a division of material may seem unwarranted； for； it
may be urged； firmness of structure depends； to a certain extent；
upon sentence…form and words； and clearness of style； to a large
extent； upon the form of the paragraph and whole composition。 The
two； certainly； cannot be in justice separated； and especially is
it true； more deeply true than the average student can be brought
to believe； that structure； 〃MIND； in style〃 as Pater phrases it；
primarily determines not only clearness； but also such qualities of
style as reserve； refinement； and simple Doric beauty。 Since；
however； structure is more obviously associated with the larger
groups； and style with the smaller； the questions have been
arranged according to this division。
I。 Suggestions for the Study of Subject…Matter。
1。 To whom does Huxley address the essay？
2。 Can you see any adaptation of his material to his audience？
3。 How would A Piece of Chalk be differently presented if given
before a science club？
4。 Does Huxley make his subject interesting？ If so； how does he
accomplish this？
5。 Is the personality of Huxley suggested by the essays？ See Life
and Letters； vol。 ii； p。 293。
II。 Suggestions for the